KEATON: A DOUBLE HELPING

Keaton scholar Polly Rose (he’s her PhD subject) introduces Old Stone Face’s final silent, the Berlin Festival award-winning THE RAILRODDER (Dir: Gerald Potterton, Canada, 1965, 24 mins), released just four months before Buster’s death. Shot in colour, it features Buster taking a gag-packed solo rail trip across Canada in an open-top “speeder”.

Also on the bill is John Spotton’s Venice Festival award-winning documentary on the film’s production, BUSTER KEATON RIDES AGAIN (Canada, 1965, 55mins), with behind-the-scenes moments including the crew’s efforts to dissuade the 69-year-old Keaton from doing a highly risky stunt (ignored!).